Marlborough, MASS. September 6, 2012 – The Marlborough Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the law firm of Mirick O’Connell will hold the 3rd Annual Business Innovation Summit on October 26, 2012, in The Campus at Marlborough’s Charles River Room, 110 Campus Drive. The invitation-only event will focus on the actions businesses and local governments can take to attract and keep a desirable pool of employees in the Boroughs region.

Gregory Bialecki, Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, will present the keynote address at the Innovation Summit. His address will be followed by a panel of executives and experts who will discuss their ideas about how conditions for employees can be improved, from within companies and in their surrounding environment.

In addition to inviting Marlborough-based business executives, the co-sponsors are broadening the list of invitees to corporate leaders and municipal officials who work in the neighboring Boroughs, which are Northborough, Southborough, and Westborough, along with those in nearby Hudson and Hopkinton. The Boroughs are collaborating on new initiatives that will improve the quality of life in these municipalities and help companies lure high-quality employees to the area.

Many employees who work in this cluster of communities in central Massachusetts have the benefit of a “reverse commute” and easy access to major highways. These communities are considering ways to make their area even more attractive by expanding options for walking trails and encouraging affordable housing and mixed-use developments.

“The economic downturn has been a challenge for many reasons, one of them being the ability of businesses to hold on to key talent every time a recovery appears imminent,” said Arthur Bergeron, chairman of MEDC’s Board of Directors and an attorney at Mirick O’Connell. “Companies cannot move forward if they have high turnover or are unable to entice talented people to work for them. Employees expect more incentive than a paycheck and want to be happy where they go to work every day.”

MEDC anticipates Innovation Summit attendees will learn new strategies for retaining their key employees and recruiting new workers. Moreover, the organization expects to hear ideas about how the City of Marlborough and nearby communities can improve the quality of life for the employees who commute here and the residents who live in the region.

The Innovation Summit will also include the presentation of Mirick O’Connell’s 3rd Annual Business Innovation Award, which this year will honor a business for innovation in employee recruitment and retention.

About Marlborough Economic Development Corporation: MEDC is the state-chartered economic development corporation for the City of Marlborough, Massachusetts, working to foster economic development, job growth and community revitalization and development in the city.